COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – Branch County Jail Administrator Fred Blankenship told the Branch County Board of Commissioners during their work session Thursday that thanks to a donation, they are looking to bring back a Corrections K-9 program in the jail.
The dog is in training with the donor, who did not want his name revealed. Training for the handler is expected to start in a couple of weeks.
The initial total cost for the program would be $5,000 with half coming out of a training fund and the other half coming out of the inmate commissary fund. Blankenship said there would no general fund money spent except for overtime.
He said the dog will be passive and help keep drugs out of the jail, as it will be trained in detecting contraband.
Commissioners agreed to bring forward to next Tuesday’s meeting their formal approval for Blankenship to pursue the program.
